Safe-T Buzz: Sharing the Road with Big Rigs

Safety is a top priority at the NTTA, and in this month’s Safe-T Buzz feature, we would like to offer some tips on sharing the road with big rigs.

To reduce the chance of a crash with a truck, drivers should first be familiar with a truck’s physical capabilities and common maneuvers.

Many motorists falsely assume that truckers can see the road better because they sit twice as high as the driver of a car. While truckers do enjoy a better forward view and have bigger mirrors, they also have large blind spots.

Unlike cars, trucks have deep blind spots behind them. If you follow a truck too closely, the truck driver can’t see your car, and your own view of the traffic flow is severely reduced. Following too closely greatly increases your chances of a rear-end collision with a truck.

Trucks also have much larger blind spots on both sides than passenger vehicles. When you drive in these blind spots for any length of time, you can’t be seen by the truck driver.

Lingering in these blind spots increase the chances of a crash. An excellent rule of thumb for motorists sharing the road with trucks is, “If you can’t see the truck driver in the side mirror, he can’t see you either.”

Tractor trailers are not designed to be as maneuverable as cars. They have longer accelerating and stopping distances, make wider turns, and they weigh more than any other vehicle on the road.

The rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels on any vehicle, but the longer the vehicle, the greater the difference. Trucks need to swing wide to the left in order to safely negotiate a right turn. They cannot see cars directly behind or beside them. Cutting in between the commercial vehicle and the curb or shoulder to the right could result in a crash. When following a tractor-trailer, observe its turn signals before trying to pass. If it appears to be starting a left turn, wait a moment to check and see which way the driver is signaling to turn before passing on the right.

Tractor trailers take longer to stop than a car traveling at the same speed. The average passenger car traveling at 55 miles per hour usually can stop in 150 to 160 feet. A fully loaded truck traveling at the same speed may take more than 400 feet to come to a complete stop.

These safety tips were brought to you by NTTA Safety Manager Fred Hilliard.